Smart money: Marketplace teaches kids, raises funds

Thursday

Nov 8, 2018 at 7:03 PM

ZEELAND — The students of Innocademy and iCademy Global aren't afraid to get their hands dirty when it comes to their education.

The students kicked off their annual Homestead Marketplace on Wednesday, Nov. 7. The marketplace gives students in grades 3-12 the opportunity to sell items they made themselves or gently used items from home to other students and community members.

"It's a favorite of the kids," said teacher Jody Voss, who helps coordinate the market. "Kids love to spend money and they love the chance to be creative in a way that isn't always possible in a traditional classroom. Some of these kids will start looking forward to what they do next year as soon as it wraps up."

The students have to come up with their own business plan, create marketing and figure out price points for the items they sell. This year's items include things like homemade bookmarks, homemade baked goods, homemade bath bombs, homemade dog treats, homemade Christmas decorations and gently used books.

The middle-schoolers can also apply to help staff the market during shopping hours by ringing up and keeping track of the purchases.

"I like helping out the younger kids with being the cashier," eighth-grader Eshwar Saikumar said. "We're getting a whole bunch of the younger classes coming in today."

The money the students raise from the marketplace are deposited directly into their field trip accounts for various trips. For example, this year's third and fourth-graders will be going to Detroit and Lansing for overnight trips, the fifth and sixth-graders will visit Washington D.C. and the seventh and eighth-graders have a trip slated for Costa Rica.

"It's good to see the kids learn in way where they don't always realize they're learning," Voss said.

The market remains open for business on Thursday, Nov. 8, from 8 a.m.-8 p.m and Friday, Nov. 9, from 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Items will be 50 percent off on Friday's market day.

The Innocademy/iCademy Global building is at 8485 Homestead Drive in Zeeland.

— Follow this reporter on Twitter @SentinelErin.

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